“We do not need paper money or the fleeting things that the living burn. We only hope that someone still remembers us, that someone still prays for us.”
Have you ever wondered what happens after the soul leaves the body? Does it journey onward to another realm? Or does it linger in this world, unable to move on? In Buddhism, as well as in many cultures, the spiritual world – often called the afterworld – is not necessarily a dark or terrifying place. Rather, it may be understood as another plane of spiritual consciousness, where souls who have not yet attained liberation remain bound by unfinished attachments and desires from their earthly lives.
One devoted Buddhist shared a remarkable testimony: he had taken part in numerous prayer ceremonies held in old cemeteries to help such wandering souls find peace and transcendence.
I have an acquaintance whom I often call my teacher – not a monk, not a sorcerer, and not someone who hunts ghosts. He is simply a person who has lived through many experiences, someone who has lost many loved ones, and someone who has spent decades studying the invisible realm – not out of superstition, but through careful observation and contemplation. One day, I went to see my teacher and asked, “Do you believe in ghosts?” He smiled and said, “I don’t need to believe or not believe, just observe and understand.” I asked further, “Then how can we know if the other world really exists?” He paused for a moment and replied, “If you truly want to know, you must go and experience it yourself. Don’t rely on what others tell you. Don’t let images from movies guide you. Let your own eyes and your own heart find the answer.”
That devoted Buddhist still carried a quiet doubt: could there truly be another world, one that cannot be seen, heard, or touched through our five senses? Why do some souls remain here, in this material world, even when their time among the living has long passed?
These spirits cannot move on, not because they wish to haunt anyone or cause harm. They simply don’t know where to go. Some are weighed down by regret. Others hold onto grudges they cannot let go. Some are lost in sorrow over parting from their loved ones. And some have simply been forgotten. So they remain, wandering in the invisible world, searching for something that even they don’t fully understand.
Among these wandering souls lie countless untold stories – stories of longing, sorrow, and quiet waiting. Each spirit carries its own reason for remaining behind. Let’s listen to one of those stories.
My teacher once told me that during a memorial ceremony, he encountered the spirit of a woman who had passed away many years ago. She held no anger, bore no grudges, and harmed no one. She simply had no one left to remember her. She had once had a family, but her husband died young, her children gradually left their hometown, and no one lit incense for her anymore, no one even spoke her name. So she remained quietly, asking for nothing, simply waiting for something. When my teacher performed the ceremony, she wept. Not with tears like the living, but he could feel her sorrow. For the first time in many years, she felt that someone still remembered her. After the ceremony, she finally moved on.
It is no coincidence that enlightened Masters of the past left behind sacred teachings and prayers for the departed. A prayer does more than bring peace to the living – it also shines a gentle light upon the souls of those who have passed on. Each prayer carries the energy of love, comfort, and remembrance, helping wandering spirits feel that they are not forgotten, and guiding them to release their sorrow and find peace in transcendence.
Another story about a prayer ceremony for the departed was shared by a Buddhist monk. His monastic group had set out with a sincere vow to visit a veterans’ cemetery and offer prayers of gratitude to the fallen heroes who had long ago given their lives for the nation.
The group of devotees entered the war cemetery, the resting place of thousands of souls who had fallen for their country. They carried incense, candles, white chrysanthemums, and prayers lifted from the depths of their hearts. Leading them was an elderly monk, quiet in demeanor, yet with eyes that shone with inner light. Then he spoke in a deep, warm voice: “Today, we come here not only to light incense in remembrance, but also to express our gratitude to those who have fallen. Though you have left the mortal world, your spirits are still present. Today, we invite you to return here, to listen to the Buddhist sutras, and to receive the merit we dedicate to you.”
As the sacred sound of the bell echoed through the air and the monks began their solemn chants, the atmosphere shifted. Everyone in the monastic assembly felt it, as if a gentle response was returning from the other side.
“We do not need paper money or the fleeting things that the living burn. We only hope that someone still remembers us, that someone still prays for us, and that someone still recites sutras and dedicates merit on our behalf, so that we may continue our journey and no longer be trapped in this realm.”
Indeed, what departed souls truly need is remembrance and gratitude, expressed through sincere prayers for their peace. Sometimes, we assume that after death, a soul immediately moves on to rebirth or transitions to another realm according to the laws of the Universe. Yet there are always souls who remain behind, held back by unfinished intentions from their lives, or simply because no one has helped guide them to continue their own spiritual journey.
Someone softly asked the elderly monk, voice trembling with emotion, “Master, does that mean they’re still here? After all these years, they haven’t yet moved on?” The elderly monk nodded quietly. “They do not move on because there are still things left unfinished: wishes unfulfilled, vows unkept, hearts unable to let go.”
Some souls, after passing, are remembered by their families, who offer prayers and dedicate merit to their peace. But others are truly forgotten – like these fallen heroes. What can we do for them? How can we help them find peace when their journey is still not yet complete?
One of the group trembled as they spoke, “Master, what can we do to help them move on?” The elderly monk gazed silently ahead, then spoke slowly: “We cannot force them to go, for they are not yet ready to leave. But we can help them find peace through our gratitude, our prayers, and the recitation of sutras. We cannot command them to let go. We can help them understand that even if they move on, we will never forget them.”
In the teachings of many enlightened Masters, a prayer is not merely a sincere offering to the Divine. It is a stream of loving energy, flowing beyond the boundaries between the physical world and the spiritual realm. Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) once kindly shared a message on the power of prayer:
Pray for your relatives or friends, or parents, or grandparents, anyone you love, you pray for them. That’s the best. That’s the best for them. And if you see them appear in your house sometimes, you should also use love and clear explanation. Tell them that they have already gone away from this physical world, and it’s not good for them to continue to hang around as a ghost, because they cannot talk to anybody. […]
They can talk to you all day, but you don’t hear anything. Some can, but rarely. That’s very bad for them. They feel sad, lonely, and frustrated, and feel as if you don’t care about them. So it’s best to pray in your own religion or to any Saint you believe in. Or pray to God. Pray to Lord Jesus. Pray to the Buddhas, your favourite Buddhas, selected Buddha, or many Buddhas. It’s up to you – depends on what you want to do. Pray for them to be liberated. That’s the best. That’s the best. You can visit their grave sometimes if you have their grave. Or if you burn their ashes and just scatter them in the garden or in the forest, or bury them under the earth, but pray for them. Don’t make them attached to you after they pass away from this world, because Heavens are better for them. Many worlds are better than this world.
Our deepest gratitude to Most Compassionate Master for sharing these teachings and guiding us in the practice of heartfelt prayer. Each of these stories opens a new window into the spiritual realm, reminding us of the profound power of compassion. When we sincerely pray for the departed, the energy of our prayers not only dedicates merit to help them find peace and liberation, but also spreads the light of love and brings tranquility to the one who prays.
